Montana’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate decreased slightly to 6.1 percent in September, compared to the national rate of 7.8 percent.
The rate dropped from 6.3 percent in August, and 6.4 percent in July.
Meanwhile, Flathead County’s non-seasonally adjusted unemployment rate fell to 7.4 percent in September from 7.9 percent a month prior.
Labor Commissioner Keith Kelly says that the downward trend was fueled by an increase of 1,100 jobs in the state. The Montana Department of Labor reports that job growth in the state is now above long-term averages.
The state is reporting a gain in private sector jobs and a drop in government jobs. Job growth was the greatest in construction and in the professional and business services industry.
Here are the jobless rates for every Montana county.
Flathead unemployment rates by month:
September 2012: 7.4%
August 2012: 7.9%
July 2012: 7.9%
June 2012: 8.5%
May 2012: 9.2%
April 2012: 10%
March 2012: 10.7%
February 2012: 10.7%
January 2012: 11.5%
December 2011: 10.6%
November 2011: 10.6%
October 2011: 10.9%
September 2011: 9.9%